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Webinar on SMSF reserves

Today the ATO issued SMSF Regulator’s Bulletin SRB 2018/1 ‘The use of reserves by self-managed superannuation funds’, which is the most comprehensive material that the ATO has ever released on the use of reserves in SMSF. In particular, SRB 2018/1 highlights the ATO’s concerns about new and emerging arrangements that pose potential risks to SMSFs [read more]

SMSF compliance

SMSFs and transfer balance account reporting

William Fettes ([email protected]), Senior Associate and Daniel Butler ([email protected]), Director, DBA Lawyers This article summarises the transfer balance account report (‘TBAR’) reporting regime for SMSFs and offers some traps and tips. Overview Under TBAR, any transaction involving a retirement phase pension (ie, tax free pension interest such as an account-based pension or a transition to [read more]

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Want reversionary pensions up to a beneficiary’s TBC? New offering from DBA Lawyers: Death Benefit Payment Deed

Daniel Butler ([email protected]), Director and Bryce Figot ([email protected]), Special Counsel, DBA Lawyers The new transfer balance cap regime can make succession planning tricky. A member may desire to make their pensions reversionary upon death. However, there may be situations where receiving these reversionary pensions would cause the beneficiary to exceed their transfer balance cap. Consequently, [read more]

financial penalty

ATO compliance action penalties for SMSFs

By Daniel Butler, Director, DBA Lawyers This article looks at the actions and penalties the ATO can impose on trustees of self managed superannuation funds (‘SMSF’). In 2014, a new regime added the following compliance powers to the ATO’s arsenal: Education directions Rectification directions Administrative penalties In addition to the above, the ATO has the [read more]

Complaints at customers service fill in complaint form and leave

Financial Ombudsman Service soon to be replaced with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority

By Shaun Backhaus, Lawyer and Daniel Butler, Director DBA Lawyers Financial Ombudsman Service The Financial Ombudsman Service (‘FOS’) is an industry body that resolves disputes between consumers and financial services providers that are members which operate in Australia. FOS is self-regulated by industry members with its costs met by the financial services providers. FOS’s dispute resolution [read more]

sds

Check your market linked pension strategy!

By: Daniel Butler, Director ([email protected]), DBA Lawyers The mid-2017 superannuation reforms have had a profound impact on market linked pensions (‘MLPs’). While most of the planning should have already been implemented, there is still some opportunity to review and potentially restructure clients with MLPs. We briefly examine below the treatment of an MLP depending on whether [read more]

easyway

Ways to remove a member from an SMSF

By Daniel Butler, Director, DBA Lawyers Removing a member from a self managed superannuation fund (‘SMSF’) is not a simple process, particularly where there is a dispute or some animosity among members. Here are some situations that DBA Lawyers has come across: family members have a falling out with a particular family member that they [read more]

norightturn

The latest on TRISs: are you in retirement phase?

By William Fettes, Senior Associate, Daniel Butler, Director, DBA Lawyers The rules that govern when exempt income arises in relation to the earnings on assets supporting transition to retirement income streams (‘TRISs’) were substantially changed with effect from 1 July 2017. Advisers and SMSF trustees should be aware that there are now two types of [read more]

control

Why is it important to have a good company constitution?

Daniel Butler ([email protected]), Director, DBA Lawyers Company constitutions are often treated as a commodity even though they are a very critical document to the overall effective operation of a company. A constitution, for instance, governs the company’s decision making, powers including the appointment and removal of officers, shareholders and many other aspects of a company. [read more]